More than 1500 contractors from across Australia, Europe and Asia will descend on Holden’s Elizabeth plant over the next fortnight in one of South Australia’s largest capital expenditure projects.

Equipment valued at more than $30 million will be installed at the plant in Adelaide’s northern suburbs during the two-week work blitz.

The contractors will take over from Holden’s 5,500-strong workforce in Adelaide to deliver one of the largest parts of Holden’s $440 million investment in South Australia over the next two years. The Elizabeth operations will be in shutdown during the installation period, from 5th July to 16th July. Employees will take a combination of programmed days off and annual leave.

The entire building and maintenance programme will be finished by 2006 - in time for the all-new Commodore.

Holden Executive Director Jeff Jamieson said the programme was vital to ensure Holden continued to make world-class vehicles to compete in the increasingly competitive global automotive industry. He said the works were part of the plant’s strategy to achieve output capability of 820 cars per day to meet and build on domestic and export programmes.

"This investment highlights Holden’s confidence in the future of Australian manufacturing and is part of its $2 billion, five-year capital expenditure programme across Australia to 2006," Mr Jamieson said.

"Holden has also delivered more than 1,000 new jobs to South Australia in the past 18 months. The works over the next two weeks will accelerate production in the second half of the year." Holden’s total building and maintenance programme in South Australia includes:

Press Shop and Fabrication:
Machining Centre	$4.90M
9AA Press Line	$40.7M
8A Press Line	$23.5M
B Class Transfer Press Line	$45.7M
AA Class Blanking Facilities	$40.0M
Rear Cross-member	$17.2M
Plastics:
Robotic Bumper Facia Paint facility	$25.4M
Four New Medium Injection Machines	$7.60M
Front End Module	$9.90M
Body Shop:
Southern Body Shop Vision	$55.0M
Paint Shop:
Interior Spray Robotics	$6.90M
Electro-Coat Facilities	$65.0M
General Assembly:
T-Shape General Assembly (Stage 2)	$98.3M
Front End Module in General Assembly	$3.90M
TOTAL	$444M

Mr Jamieson said there was also heavy focus on significantly enhancing employee ergonomics and safety, whilst increasing productivity and capacity.

The works began in the second half of 2003 with upgrades in both general assembly and the press shop.

"This is a massive project for Adelaide and Australia. At Elizabeth, we now make more than 40 models and export cars around the world.

"It is vital that we continually improve the plant to make sure Holden remains a viable and competitive car-maker well into the future."

Mr Jamieson said Holden employed around 5,500 people at Elizabeth and was South Australia’s largest private sector employer.